2010 Toyota 4runner Limited
Much like a brave soldier, the ultra-macho 2010 4Runner is ready to accompany its owner into any warzone be it a supermarket parking lot or a ravine deep in the Mojave Desert. Put simply, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner is one kick-ass sport utility vehicle.
Also available with a 2.7 liter 157 horsepower 4-cylinder, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited that I tested came equipped with a gutsy 4.0 liter 270 horsepower V6 mated to a smooth shifting 5-speed automatic. My tester came fully loaded with navigation, leather, third row seating and a premium audio system but despite all these luxuries it never felt anything less than ready to tackle the toughest trail or tow the heaviest load. The Toyota 4Runner is an old-school body-on-frame style SUV and is all the better for it.
Styling
The exterior styling of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner is nothing short of a total homerun. Not since the original four-door, early 1990’s 4Runner has Toyota managed to pull off such a stylistic piece of automotive machismo with one of its sport utility vehicles. This is the perfect family SUV for the man (or woman) who still wants to maintain a bit of his (or her) youthful toughness.
The squared off wheel arches and angry looking headlamp design conspires to make the 4Runner appear very intimidating on the road. And even though the 4Runner is nearly as big as the last generation Sequoia it hides its size very ably with clever design touches that manage to give it a nimble air. There really isn’t a bad angle on this monster-size SUV. It just reeks cool from each and every pore.
Interior
The 2010 Toyota 4Runner is by no means a small vehicle and easily accommodates 7 passengers with the third row perch proving to be incredibly comfortable even for adults. In actuality each and every seat in the 2010 Toyota 4Runner offers plenty of head and legroom with the second row of seats offering enough width for three wide cheeseburger eating Americans. As such, the interior of the 2010 Toyota Runner just screams “road trip!”
From the driver’s seat you get a picture perfect view of your surroundings and blind spots are kept to a minimum. All of the dials and controls are legibly marked and intuitive to use. Knobs are seemingly designed for those with giant fingers, so chunkily are they sized. Dials and buttons for temperature control, navigation and the stereo move with a motion that reeks of quality. This is an interior designed for years of serious family and off-road abuse.
Cargo capacity is truly generous with 46.3 cubic feet available behind the second row of seats and 88.8 cubic feet with the second row folded. With the third row of seats up, however, cargo space is rather limited but thankfully the third row is split so if you just need 6 seats you can use the other half of the space for cargo. There really are limitless uses for the interior of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner.
The 4 Runner has a 23 gallon fuel tank so cruising distances between stops can be rather long even though the test vehicle returned a “just okay” 16.4 miles per gallon during the test. Granted, the 4Runner was mainly driven in stop and go city driving but one feature this vehicle could do without is the little green “ECO” light that illuminates on the dash every time you go light on the throttle.
As this green light is located near the turn signal lights on the dash I kept thinking I had left them on. Come on Toyota, no one expects an off-road ready vehicle that weighs this much to be “eco-friendly” so ditch the useless light. Otherwise, the interior of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited is perfection—it is stylish, user friendly and built to a standard competitors could only dream of attaining.
Driving Impressions
Surprisingly for a vehicle of this weight and size, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited that I tested sure knew how to hustle. Unlike the 1991 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 I used to own, the 2010 model has plenty of power in all passing situations and rides with the smoothness of your average car based crossover. The steering is also full of feel making the 2010 4Runner a fun to drive 7-passenger SUV. I don’t think I have ever had more fun behind the wheel of any similarly sized SUV.
The 4Runner does roll a bit in corners but the vehicle’s electronics keep that in check and this is not an SUV that was meant for track days anyway. What is most striking, however, is how smoothly the 4Runner rides even though it is still built on a body-on-frame chassis.
As the 2010 4Runner is still body-on-frame this makes it tough enough for hardcore trail and towing use. You will never hear complaints from passengers about a jittery ride, either, which makes it utterly unique in its ever shrinking class of SUVs. The 4Runner even tackles speed bumps in parking lots much like they weren’t even there. Kudos to Toyota for such a brilliant job of making the 4Runner such an able multi-use vehicle.
Pricing, Options and Features
Available in basic SR5, Trail (which adds a locking rear-differential, multi-terrain select 4WD and a Crawl Control function for off-road inclines) and Limited form, there is a 2010 Toyota 4Runer for every purpose and budget. As I enjoy my luxuries I opted to test a Limited model which came equipped with supple leather, a simple to use voice activated navigation system, a mind-blowing 16-speaker JBL audio system with iPod adaptor, 20 inch alloy wheels, smartkey with push button start, home link, moonroof, back-up camera and a nifty multi-information display with cruise range, temperature readout and compass.
Although $43,055 may sound like a lot for a fully loaded 2010 4Runner I can tell you that the interior design, quality and feel are nothing short of Lexus-like. So taken in those terms the 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited is actually kind of a bargain.
How Dog Friendly is It?
I am not sure that Toyota could have possibly built a more perfect vehicle for our four legged canine family members. All of the plastics and leather seem designed to withstand doggie abuse and the interior is very simple to clean. Whether you keep your dogs in the cargo area or attached to harnesses in the second row, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner offers plenty of room for all of your dogs and their stuff. Kids will also love it in the 4Runner, too.
Final Thoughts
The 2010 Toyota 4Runner is definitely the 7-passenger SUV I would buy if I was looking for tons of go anywhere utility and planned on keeping this as my family car for ten years. The 4Runner drives and feels positively bomb-proof and would make a great companion on family Camping/Off-Road trips. As a previous 4Runner owner I cannot recommend the 2010 version more highly.
2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4wd
Starting at $27,500
Limited Model Tested: $43,035
Engine: 4.0 liter V6—270 horsepower/278 lb. feet of torque
Transmission: Five speed automatic
Economy: 17 city/22 highway (EPA)
Fuel Economy During Test: 16.4 miles per gallon
Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
0-60: 8.2 seconds (estimated @ Edmunds.com)
